Home burglars dress up as utility workers

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. - Police in Gwinnett County are searching for a pair of burglars who dressed as utility workers before breaking into a home.

Investigators said a white hard hat and a yellow reflective vest were used as part of a disguise.

"Anybody who was home during that time of day might consider him to be a utility worker,” said Detective Ryan Dunlap with the Gwinnett County Police Department.

But Dunlap said surveillance cameras prove otherwise. He showed Channel 2’s Kerry Kavanaugh the home surveillance video of the men creeping around a Snellville house on Brittany Oak Trace. He said the men first went to the front door to check if anyone was home.

Police believe at one point, the suspects realized the security cameras were watching them.

In the video, the man in the hard hat walks around the side of the home while the second man stands and acts as the lookout. Once around the side, he pulls a cutting tool out of his backpack.

"He cut the power meter, which then cut all the power to the residence, which stops the surveillance video," Dunlap said.

Dunlap said at that point, the two broke in through the back door.

"I have two young children and stuff. They're both at school so yes, it scared me a lot because I had just left my house and it happened mere minutes after I left my house with my daughter,” said neighbor Sheila Burton.

Neighborhoods said they are now on high alert, and so are police.

Dunlap said once inside, the men stole a safe that contained two handguns.

"If we were able to capture this one on video, it leads you to kind of wonder how many they've gotten away with prior to that,” Dunlap said.

If you recognize either man or have any information about the burglary, contact Gwinnett County police at 770-513-5300.